Thai Cuisine
Basil
Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit hotel/ BTS Asoke
MRT Sukhumvit / Tel 02 6498888
www.sheratongrandsukhumvit.com
The softly styled, woody place has been dimmed and now looks luxurious
Smokers book one of the private rooms (the red one is the best). Check out
the inviting open kitchen at the entrance - the chef is available for
private cooking classes. The big menu offers nicely priced, home-style Thai
food: dishes you can find on the street, redone marvellously. Be careful
with the three-chilied dishes; the chef's serous about authenticity. The
Organic Soft Shell Crab and the Stir-fried Lobster with Ginger are
mind-boggling and obviously perfect. The menu changes regularly and their
set dinners are a steal The perfect place to start loving Thai food.
Harmonique
22 Charoen Krung Soi 34/Tel 02 237 8175
The Chinese shophouse - three streets away from The Oriental Hotel - is
difficult to find but its superb atmosphere makes it definitely worth
looking for. Ask your concierge for directions. The high-ceilinged dining
rooms may be too much for aesthetes; some might find the accumulated
bric-a-brac right-out garish. You can always sit and unwind at the marble
tables in the shady, soothing, flower filled courtyard, which will make you
forget all about the high-stress levels of Bangkok's urbanity. The food is
nothing to write home about, although most items on the menu will leave your
taste buds satisfied. If you are used to the spiciness of Thai food make
sure you ask for hot versions; otherwise you might be disappointed. The
clientele is almost entirely Western who rave about the menu with photos of
all the dishes. Stop by for an inexpensive lunch.
Supatra River House
288 Soi Wat Rakhang, Arun Amarin Rd.
Tel 02 4110305
This often-crowded place combines all things Thai: dinner theatre,
breath-taking views of Bangkok's major sight, and a wooden riverside
restaurant serving good Thai food. Arrive before sunset - and stick to the
terrace - to watch the spectacle of the illuminated Grand Palace. Upon
request, a wooden barge picks you up from any riverside hotel. The
convincing food is classic Thai, but somewhat watered down to please foreign
tongues. Expect the usual suspects: Pomelo Salad, Soft Shell Crab, TomYam
Goong. Joe Cummings, author of Lonely Planet Thailand, says that Mick Jagger
once ran into Angelina Jolie here, but you should rather expect Asian tour
groups on lunch stops. Yet, it's a neat way to spend an evening, especially
on weekend nights when Thai folk plays are performed - on these nights,
reservations are essential
International
Crepes & Co
18/1 Sukhumvit Soi 12 / BTS Asok / MRT
Sukhumvit/Tel 02 2512895
www.crepes.co.th
This cosy little oasis, with its quiet tropical garden, makes for a
welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of nearby Sukhumvit Rd. Crepes &
Co's popularity is evidenced by the teeming weekend brunch crowd, from
tables of families to groups of hipsters nursing hangovers. The eclectic
variety of crepes, served by attentive wait staff donning sailor garb, may
just transport you to Brittany, but crepes are just the beginning at this
Bangkok institution. Patrons can also feast on a unique array of authentic
Mediterranean fare inspired by family recipes - the French owner was raised
in Greece, Spain and Morocco. A full menu of superb salads, exotic treats
like authentic couscous and tajine, and bulid-em-yourself brunch combos is
available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Kuppa
39 Sukhumvit Soi 16 / Tel 02 663 0450
This fame of this tea and coffee house -cum-restaurant was built on
a simple concept innovative comfort food. And for years this magnetic
formula has been drawing in a steady stream of diners to this specious and
stylish den of feasting. A safe bet for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Kuppa
devotees come for the salads and sandwiches, quiche, imaginative pizzas and
pasta. The short menu of Thai specialties is also worth sampling Save some
space, and choose from one of Bangkok's most decadent selection of cakes,
pies and other sweet things. Casual by day, Kuppa transforms into elegant
dining choice in the evening. Dishes and wines are on par with some the top
international kitchens in town.
Italian
Bella Napoli
3/3 Sukhumvit soi 31/BTS Phrom Pong
Tel 02 259 0405
Forget about flair for a sec. Think of that perfect Naples-style
pizza and its crispy think crust. Now grab a cab and dash to Bella Napoli.
The hole-in-the-wall is packed out nightly with a fun crowd of pizza
virgins and local foodies. Those in the know will point out the Italian
five-star chefs working in Bangkok are here too, and they're all devouring
the pizzas. The service can be shaky, the air-con struggles with the
open-kitchen heat, and if you haven't made reservations you might be forced
to wait outside...but the pizzas! Try anything you feel like ; from the
simple but stunning Pizza Diavolo to the Penna Lungha with its Parman ham
tree, these are-for most Bangkokians, anyway - the best ones in town. The
meaty mains and the imaginatively served pasta are worth a try, but we come
here for one thing only.
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Blue Elephant
233 South Sathorn Rd / BTS Surasak
Tel 02 6739353 /
www.blueelephant.com
Ever since the Blue Elephant Group opened its restaurant here,
connoisseurs of modern Thai food have been filling up the stylish place
night after night. Been to other Blue Elephants before ? The setting alone
- a striking century-old mansion - sets this branch apart from the rest.
Directly beneath a BTS station or a short taxi hop away from most downtown
hotels, the classy interior combines colonial decor, wicker chairs and
tonnes of fresh flowers into an ideal set for romantic tete-a-tetes. Their
Royal Thai cuisine is faultless (and so is the service)-numerous satisfied
Thai dinners sure must mean something. But most dishes have been globalised;
western ingredients transform them into something extraordinary. Foie Gras
with Tamarind Sauce, Scallops Mangosteen Salad and the Massaman Lamb are
must try dishes. Pair them with hefty Thai wines.
Naj
42 Convent Rd. / BTS Saladaeng / MRT Silom
Tel 02 6322811
A stroll short away from Silom, This hidden mansion is an absolute insider
tip. Spreading over two floors, the stylish restaurant kept a lot of the
house's charm but has been painstakingly renovated. Glimpse into Naj's wine
cellar through the glass floor. Sitting amid and elegant but informal crowd,
you can listen to live classical Thai music before genuine Thai food arrives
in big portions on fine china. Anything you might want to try will satisfy
your taste buds but beware of the tang of some dishes. This is no beginner's
course in Thai Cuisine. Naj delivers lower prices than comparable
establishments.
Le Lys
104 Narathiwat Soi 7, Sathorn /BTS Chong Nonsi/Tel
02 2871898-9
In a sprawling hacienda on a quiet side street (but only BTS stop
away from Silom), one of Bangkok's mainstays of Thai food has found a new
location. The old place on Lang Suan is set to close this year The interior
is eclectic the Thai-French owners lovingly stuffed them with posters,
knickknacks and unique lamps. Pan-Euro chansons are recognised by the
patrons that keep returning here so often they could call it their second
home the inexpensive Thai food tastes like it's made with love, and you'll
find superior dishes that you won't find everywhere else. It's been
mentioned in "Wallpaper" magazine. Need I say more ?
Cy'an
The metropolitan Bangkok,South Sathorn Rd
MRT Lumpini / Tel 02 625 333
www.metropolitan.como.bz
The Metropolitan Hordes of hipsters have been praising Bangkok's
uber-design hotel and its flagship restaurant. The staff is clad in Yohji
Yamamoto (think black), and design-aficionados praise the minimalist
decor. It's all sleep, chic and streamlined. Some claim it's a school
cafeteria designed to death, but that's a small minority opinion From the
slim (and un-air-conditioned) three-table veranda adjoining the pool you'll
always be able to check out on sun beds- if the sexy guys and gals
dining inside don't satisfy you, that is. multi-awarded Australian chef
Amanda Gale dishes out healthy, local ingredients and combines them with
Moroccan-Med influences. She's into markets so the menu's transient, but
expect the innovative likes of Wagyu Beef, Crayfish Salad and Iberian
Ham-for a certain, but understandable price .
Eat Me
1/6 Soi Pipat 2, Convent Rd / BTS Saladaeng
MRT Silom / Tel 02 2380931
A restaurant cum art gallery usually makes one's gastro-expectations
flutter with anxiety, but Eat Me has married the two successfully. Often
branded as fusion, we'd rather think of the fantastic food as Western with
global influences. The small, seven year-old restaurant is so popular that
booking ahead is always highly advised. You'll share the bright yet intimate
space with amorous couples and impressive art on the walls-the owner is one
of Bangkok's most influential curators and loves testing out his fresh
fledglings on Eat Me's patrons. The short, often-changing menu might include
a classic Tenderloin Steak and rather unusual Spaghetti with Roast Duck and
Olives. Try out the tables on the dark open-air terrace they're oozing
romance.
French
Le Bouchon
37/17 Patpong Soi 2, Surawong Rd
BTS Saladaeng / MRT Silom/Tel 02 234 9109
Hurry past the Hermes fakes and tourts advertising ping pong shows
and step into this memorable mini-version of France, reminicent of a resto
on a tiny Lyonnais side street. It's a low-ceilinged, narrow, dark place
packing in only nine tables and a wide bar, at which the owner seems to sit
night after night. Regulars of Euro expat regulars sit next to undercover
Thai politicos, munching on fantastic home-style cooking. The food is all
about quality and taste, and is selected from a regular and a weekly
changing menu written on a portable blackboard. It's some-what
Southeastern (think meats in sauces) but really is just plain authentic
French, without the typical French price tag. Most popular are Lobster
Bisque,Foie Gras Ravioli, Frog Legs, Pot au Feu, Duck a I'Orange and
tantalizing dessert. Reserve at table, if you don't want to wait at the bar.
Le Normandie
The Oriental Bangkok
www.mandarinoriental.com
The Oriental Hotel stands for class, tradition and high, though
justified prices. On top of its Garden Wing you'll find Le Normandie, the
only restaurant in Bangkok where wearing a jacket and tie is required. Le
Normandie is a bit stiff, but the great view over the Chao Phaya River, the
restaurant's old-world black & orange interior, and the perfection of the
staff are all legendary. The French cuisine is often ranked as Asia's best ,
but a visit is definitely not for the financially challenged. Superb
classical dishes are presented on a small, but well thought-out menu.
Feast on flawless Brittany Lobster, Roasted Turbot and Pigeon - and ask your
other half to look away once you start fishing for your Platinum Amex.
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